How I Became A Cyborg

 Hi Charlie ! Elaï writing here :)

I wanted to share about how I got to become a superior being thanks to technology.

WARNING : you CANNOT reproduce this transformation, so you had better stop reading this article if you don't want to get too jealous. 

So the first step to becoming a cyborg is simple : you have to be diabetic. 

I can already see you trying to stuff chocolate into your mouth : but you have to be TYPE 1 diabetic, so unlucky for you, you can't become a cyborg by eating too much sugar. 

So before going into details, I'll explain briefly what you must be burning to ask : what is diabetes, really ?

Well, let's look at how normal bodies function to understand.

In order to function, our cells use glucose. You get it from eating any type of sugar (that is to say fruits, potatoes, startches, drinks and so on) : which your body transforms into glucose during digestion. The glucose is sent in your blood to be brought to all the cells in need. But in order to ENTER the cell, it needs a KEY : that's a hormone called INSULIN

( please take a moment to appreciate the hand-made key )

Well basically a person with diabetes either doesn't produce any insulin at all due to an auto-immune reaction, which means the cells in their pancreas responsible for insulin production are destroyed by their immune system ( type 1 ). Or, people with type 2 diabetes don't produce enough of it because they ate a too unbalanced diet and worn out their pancreas, which is the organ that produces insulin.

As a result, glucose can't enter the cell and stays in your blood : it's called hyperglycemia, the amount of sugar in your blood or blood sugar level, is too high. For information, a child or young adult with this disease is almost ALWAYS a t1 diabetic, as t2 strikes older people for a major part. Thus we're not like this because we like a good chocolate, it's only a matter of chance.

So in my case of T1, there are great SOLUTIONS !! And THAT's where the transformation begins...

1- The insulin pump 

So if your body is incapable of producing insulin, you need to get it some other way : so t1 diabetics must inject it themselves in their arm, leg or belly. It's not that bad at first, but there are a lot of cons : first it's a disaster in terms of ecology, because you can only use a needle once, so that's five plastic needles a day. Secondly it's not exactly convenient when there are a lot of people around because a lot of people fear needles and make comments. On top of this, you need to do maths to know how much insulin you need to take according to what you're eating. Here's what an "insulin pen" looks like : 

So if you catch me with this, it's ONLY INSULIN

But then, some genius thought of a new thing : a device you wear on you that would give you insulin without stinging. How cool, right ? 

So the "insulin pump" calculates on its own the amount of medicine you need according to your blood sugar level and the amount of "sugars" you're about to eat, and administrates it without anyone noticing. But you have to wear it on you ALL THE TIME because you need some insulin even when you're not eating. But it's hidden ( sort of ) under your shirt.

( there are several kinds as the pic shows )

So that's the first device to become a robot.

2- The sensor

When you have diabetes, you need to check several times a day your blood sugar level, in case it's too high or too low, because the only way to correct it is manualy since your body won't do it for you, and it's dangerous to stay too high or low for too long. 

For this, the first method is to check directly with your blood by stinging your finger and using a device but who wants that! 

And then another genius came up with the sensor

Again you have to wear one all the time, but it's extremely convenient! Basically all you have to do is scan your sensor with a device and it gives you your blood sugar-level, but today there are even apps on the phone to do it! (having an iPhone 5 I don't have this privilege)

I find it fascinating how technology can be mixed with medical care and make things so easy!

3- Artificial pancreases

So you may not have been blown away just yet but I hope you stayed until the end of this extremely long article because THIS IS WHAT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!

What if I told you that science is even greater than all this ? That technology has provided us with an artificial pancreas ?!

By mixing the two previous devices and linking them with AI, you get a "closed loop". Thus the person wearing them has litteraly NOTHING to do : the sensor communicates with the pump so that when you eat and blood sugar-level rises, it releases just enough insulin without you needing to ask it to or to calculate in your head. To me, this is the final step, the way to becoming a true cyborg. As you can see, technology can be of great help (I do hope some of next year's seconde will read this). It truly changes diabetics' lives and I thought it would be fun to share about it, as I'm sure you've seen people wearing these, perhaps not knowing what they were.

I hope you enjoyed reading :)

hum see you next term

Why should you care about your WPM?

Hello Charlie, in this article I will be talking about keyboard WPM and how to improve it.

For starters, what is WPM? This acronym stands for Words Per Minute and it is supposed to be a measure of a how fast you can type on a keyboard (the higher it is, the more words you can type in one second). 

After understanding its definition, you may be asking why should you care about this? It's precisely because of how useful can improving your WPM be in your life. Especially in the OIB, where we often end up getting a lot of written assignments (such as hot seatings, creative writing works, task works, essays, presentations, etc), students as a result often end up needing to type a lot. Otherwise, in your life, typing may concern your future job (especially as the world is becoming more and more digital), or even other subjects that you study at school, or probably taking notes in university. Hence, typing faster will be beneficial in these situations.

The average person has a typing speed of around 40 WPM (they can type 40 words every minute). So in theory, the actual time taken to type the words on the keyboard for a 1000-word essay would be 25 mins (this is excluding the time it takes to think about what to write). But if your WPM went up to 60, suddenly you can type the same thing that took 25 mins before in just under 17 mins. But people are capable of going way beyond this limit. A really fluent typist can type on average around 140-180 WPM, which is ridiculously fast (the previous 1000 words could now be written in 7 mins with a speed of 160 WPM instead of taking 25 mins to type those words!). 

So with these previous numbers, you can clearly see how typing quicker can make you much more productive and help you to save time. But to get quicker, the best way is to learn blind typing.

Indeed, the normal way that the average typist types is by constantly looking at their screen, memorising two to four words, then looking at their keyboards to type these words. This method is really slow compared to blind typing, which means that you type without looking at your keyboard and only look at the screen of the computer. Instead, you assign certain keys to each finger of your two hands, and you rely on muscle memory to know which finger you should use to type each letter. Below is a diagram for where each finger should be positioned:

For example, you should use your left index finger to type the letters r, t, f, g, v and b (all the orange keys). To quickly remember where to place all your fingers, you can feel for the tiny bumps on the letters f and j to know where to put your index fingers and then place all your other fingers in line with the two indexes. 

Over time, practising to type like this will allow you to practically double your current typing speed or even more. And practice, I would suggest websites like Keybr to learn to get the hand of blind typing as it gradually keeps adding more and more letters for you to type, until you can type all the letters of the keyboard without looking at it. It even shows you the accuracy and speed of each letter and its progressions in the form of a diagram so you can know which letters to really work on.

After that, I would also recommend Monkeytype to test your typing speed as you can do a quick 30s test to find out your current typing speed and you can keep repeating it until you get faster. What I really like about this website is its customization as it has plenty of themes, as well as having plenty of options to customize exactly what you want to appear on the screen.

Lastly, Type Racer is another website that is really useful to improve your WPM, especially because it's sort of competitive (as you have to race against other people online) and it includes capital letters as well as punctuation marks which is an additional bonus.                                               

So improving your typing speed could indeed be a good opportunity as it will allow you to do so many things much more efficiently than ever before!

CYBERPUNK EDGERUNNERS an anime that almost brought me to tears

 

"Cyberpunk Edgerunners" is more than just a TV show; it's a thrilling adventure set in a futuristic world where technology and humanity clash. The story takes place in a gritty city called Night City, where giant corporations control everything and danger lurks at every turn.

What makes the show so exciting is its exploration of important themes like the risks of advancing technology and the struggles of people living in a society dominated by powerful companies. The characters are diverse and fascinating, each with their own secrets and motivations.

My favorite part about this whole anime has to be the dynamic between David the protagonist and Lucy his friend(lover after) i love their interactions! and find them very interesting as characters.

But amidst the chaos, there's also hope. "Cyberpunk Edgerunners" tells a story of ordinary people fighting back against oppression, showing that even in the darkest times, there's always a chance for change(or is there?).

if you want to find out more I recommend checking this website out! https://www.cyberpunk.net/en/edgerunners

anyways thanks for reading choom!(not a slur just cyberpunk slang :)  )

Childhood movies I believe deserve more recognizition

Hello, Alicia writing! Today I will share some movies from my childhood that hold a special place in my heart and I think need more recognition since I think it's crazy that such a small amount of people know them. Aka, this is me trying to convince everyone who will take the time to read my blog to watch 3 movies I love and watch over and over my whole childhood! >:) Let's begin!!!

1- The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty by Ben Stiller

To open the list let me present to you the simple and dull Walter Mitty who, in a try to escape his simple and dull life, lets his imagination and impulsive thoughts take him on a crazy, a bit surrealist and action-packed adventure. It is a self-discovery movie so that's kinda all you need to know about the plot hehe.

Now, what makes this movie awesome? Well, I think the narrative might be one of the strongest points. Throughout the movie we see multiple scenes where the reality of the moment is mixed with what is happening inside of Walter's imagination and what he wished was happening, accompanied by some epic music and great acting. It is a pleasure to see. 

The writing of the characters is also a strong point, the character's presentation and development and the way they relate to each other and build their relationships is fun to see and feels realistic and relatable all while leaving the window open to imagine more things about them and their future.  

AND the movie has David Bowies's songs, what else could make it perfect? Ah yes, photography. I think it is worth watching it at least to enjoy every well planned and beautifully executed scene. 

2- The Chronicles of Spiderwick by Mark Waters

Now, I believe this movie is a little bi more known but at least during my childhood I was the only one who had seen it, so I will still present it.  

It is one of the most iconic fantasy movies I've seen. I have no idea how faithful it is to the books since I haven't had the chance to read them, but at least it is a good movie. 

We follow 2 brothers and their sister whose lives change suddenly after the divorce of their parents and them moving to the country house of their grandmother. There, Jared, the protagonist, discovers a book filled with annotations of the secret life and forms of life that share this world with us. From that moment on the adventure begins...

As most of the fantasy movies you'll find out there the premise is pretty simple but enjoyable. But what I thinks makes this movies so unique is the fact that the creatures shown and the way they are added in the so

3- Hugo by Martin Scorsese 

This movie is probably the one with the most famous casting from my list so I hope more people will be able to recognize it. 

In this movie we follow Hugo, an orphan who lives in a train station in which he discovers a automaton that happens to be his father's old experiment. While he struggles to find the key to make it work we see the stories of the different and ethereal characters of the train station develop and discover fascinating things about them. 

Like the opening movie of my list the characters of this movie and the photography are what make it so special. I don't really know how to describe it but if you watch the movie you'll know what I refer to with the fact that they're all just so beautifully written you just melt at seeing them and aaaaahhh!!!!

It also happens to be one with one of the best soundtracks on this list, no surprise since it is made by Howard Shore, the same guy who did the soundtrack of Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit franchise! Fun fact, Cristopher Lee appears in the movie, aka you get to see Saruman the White as a librarian, which is obviously awesome because who doesn't love to see Cristopher Lee on the screen? 

Words cannot describe how beautiful and unique this movie is. Every  time I watch it it feels like entering a dream again and discovering the magic of it! Like aaaaahhh!!

Anyways, I have to end the blog now but know that I WILL come back with more movies recommendations that hopefully someone will watch! 

Have a good day! 🐈

ELDEN RING A MASTERPIECE!!

 "Elden Ring" is an amazing game that takes players on a big adventure. It's made by Hidetaka Miyazaki and George R.R. Martin. In the game, you explore a huge world called the Lands Between. You play as the Tarnished, trying to save the world by finding the Elden Ring. The game lets you do lots of things like fighting big bosses, exploring dungeons, and meeting interesting characters.

What makes "Elden Ring" special is how everything fits together. The game looks beautiful, the fighting feels real, and the story keeps you hooked. As you travel through the Lands Between, you'll see amazing sights like mountains and cities. But there's also a feeling that the world is in trouble and needs your help.

The story, written by George R.R. Martin, is full of surprises and interesting characters. You'll meet gods, kings, and mysterious creatures as you uncover the secrets of the world. But the best thing about "Elden Ring" is how it makes you feel. Whether you're battling a tough enemy or exploring a hidden cave, the game always keeps you excited. It's a game that makes you think and feel, and it's definitely worth playing if you love big adventures.

here is one of my favorite bosses Malenia, Blade of Miquella, is a powerful warrior who protects the Forbidden Lands. She carries a big sword with dark powers. Malenia attacks fast and keeps hitting without stopping. Even skilled players find her tough to beat.

Angels in America, aka the play that made me cry for 20 minutes non-stop

 Angels in America

        Hello Charlie! Theo from T3 here.

Have you ever wanted to see Andrew Garfield in drag?

Okay, maybe that's a little too specific of an opening, I'll try again. Have you ever wanted to see a 6-hour long theatre play which grapples with the complex and tragic history of the AIDS crisis? That also focuses on themes of self-acceptance, queerness, politics, mental health, religion, solidarity and joy despite everything terrible going on around you? 

Well, if you have somehow magically been wanting to watch this (and by this I mean a 6-hour long theatre play which grapples with the complex and tragic history of the AIDS crisis that also focuses on themes of self-acceptance, queerness, politics, mental health, religion, solidarity and joy despite everything terrible going on around you, in case you hadn't caught that yet), I have wonderful news for you! The BFI section has access to a part of the National Theatre's online play collection, and this play is included within it.

I know, 6 hours might seem extremely discouraging, but hey: it's in two parts, and you can just pause at the end of a scene and keep watching the day afterwards (it took me 5 days to actually, fully finish it, but we don't talk about that ❤). 

As it's theatre, it's also originally drama, and don't we love that in the BFI? The original play is quite long, 304 pages, but goodness, it's one of the best things I've ever read. It's swept so many awards in its different adaptations (as it's also a TV series featuring Al Pacino and Meryl Streep), and in this particular staging, it's absolutely heart-shattering. The different personalities of the characters are so well written, it feels like people you'd be able to meet and have a conversation with completely casually. They're human.

My personal favourite characters were Hannah, Belize and Prior, they're honestly just interesting and complex and genuinely touching characters. It's impossible to not get attached to anyone at all while watching this- plus, the dialogue is written so well that everything just flows together perfectly. The writer of the play, Tony Kushner, doesn't shy away from showing his characters' flaws either.

One of the things I personally absolutely admired about the play was the fact that it blended tragedy and comedy so well (as I mentioned earlier!). Furthermore, there are also some parts that lean into the supernatural a bit more than others, but even those are done so wonderfully! It's honestly just a really entertaining and thoughtful play. Also, the gif next to here shows Andrew Garfield in part one (Millenium Approaches), scene 6 of the play, and dear Lord, I'm always surprised in the way that he doesn't completely lose his voice while doing these roles. 

Either way, you should watch this for phenomenal acting and flawed but lovable characters (and for Andrew Garfield in drag, obviously)- they're just like us, after all! Also watch it so I can talk about it with you for ages and ages. Good luck with that.

That's all for now! Bye Charlie!

Presentation of a cool civilization : the Tihuanacota civilization!

        Hello, this is a blog from Alicia and today you will be discovering some interesting facts about Bolivia and what is Aymara. So, Bolivia is where I'm from. I was born and raised there until last year when I moved to France with my family. Naturally, I'm going to share a lot of things about my country on this blog, if I become annoying I apologize from now, but sharing about my culture is very dear to me! :)

 

    Now let's begin with a fun fact, since Bolivia is situated right in the middle of  South America there is this joke of calling it the "heart of Latin America". Sadly, being the heart and having lost the Pacific War (not the European one, but the Latin American one) we have no access to the ocean or sea, but the country is rich in culture, actually it's among the countries with the biggest indigenous population in South America (about 62%). Something to be proud of, indeed in Bolivia our ancestors are the aymara people. 

The flag here shown is actually a flag that represents the diversity of native people from Los Andes, it is called "la Whipala", in Bolivia it is a national symbol since 2009. 

    If you're wondering who Aymara people are, let me explain. You probably have heard of Mayas or Incas so have in mind that Aymaras are like another type of indigenous people in South America, it's also the name of the language. But be careful, it's written aYmara and not in the supposedly correct way ; aImara. Fun fact about aymara, it didn't start to get written until the 60s because it's more of an oral language, meant to be shared in community. Thus it has a ton of variations and not many grammatical rules. There's even people in rural zones that believe it is crazy to write it. Sadly, the language is getting lost in very urban zones of the country, nevertheless they teach it in schools. I was learning it in my school but because I only got to learn it during two years I don't know as much as I wish I did. 

    Now, from where are the Aymara people? Aymara people originate from “La Cordillera de los Andes” a large mountain range in South America that goes all the way down from North Venezuela to Chile. In the intersection between Peru, Bolivia and Chile there is a lake, Lago Titicaca. Aymara people originate exactly from there, they descend from the Tihuanacota civilization, which, to make simple, is a civilization from before the Incas that grew around the lake. 

<-- reference picture

More unique things about the culture of the Tihuanacota civilization is the Tiahuanaco. A huge archaeological site that can be considered the capital of the civilization. It is truly beautiful, you have monuments, sculptures and others things representing deities and beliefs from our aymaran culture. 

Anyways, that would be it! Trust that I will write more blogs about Bolivia so see you next time! 

:)

--> pictures of Tiahuanaco 

The Perfect Holiday Haven for Young Students

 

Hey there ! If you're looking for the ultimate getaway that's equal parts stunning scenery, cultural exploration, and just the right amount of adventure, then Santorini is your dream destination! Tucked away in the mesmerizing Aegean Sea, this Greek gem is like something straight out of a postcard.

First things first, let's talk about the views! Santorini is famous for its jaw-dropping vistas, with those iconic white-washed buildings perched atop cliffs overlooking the sparkling blue sea. Whether you're chilling in the charming streets of Oia or catching some rays on the island's volcanic beaches, every angle is a picture-perfect moment waiting to happen.

But Santorini isn't just about the views – it's also bursting with history and culture. You can explore ancient ruins like Akrotiri, where you'll feel like you've stepped back in time to the Minoan era. And don't forget to wander through traditional villages like Pyrgos and Megalochori, where you can soak up the authentic Greek vibe and maybe even pick up a few words of the local lingo.

Now, let's talk about the food – because trust me, you're in for a treat! Santorini is a culinary paradise, with fresh seafood, juicy tomatoes, and tangy feta cheese galore. Whether you're tucking into a hearty Greek salad at a seaside taverna or indulging in some mouthwatering souvlaki from a street vendor, your taste buds are in for a ride.

Feeling adventurous? Santorini has got you covered! You can lace up your hiking boots and tackle some scenic trails with epic views around every corner. Or why not take to the water and explore hidden coves and sea caves by kayak? And for the adrenaline junkies among us, there's always the option of cliff jumping into the crystal-clear waters below – just make sure to stick the landing!

But the fun doesn't stop when the sun goes down – in fact, it's just getting started! Santorini's nightlife scene is buzzing, with beach bars, rooftop lounges, and clubs aplenty. Whether you're grooving to live music on the sand or sipping cocktails with a view of the twinkling lights of the caldera, you're guaranteed a night to remember.

And after all that excitement, you'll definitely want to take some time to unwind. Luckily, Santorini is home to some seriously luxurious spas where you can pamper yourself silly with massages, facials, and all sorts of other indulgent treatment

So there you have it– Santorini is the ultimate holiday destination for young students looking for an unforgettable adventure. With its stunning scenery, rich history, delicious food, and endless array of activities, this Greek island paradise has got everything you need for the trip of a lifetime. So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags, grab your friends, and get ready to make some memories that'll last a lifetime!